“But this is touching, Severus,” said Dumbledore seriously. “Have you grown to care for the
boy, after all?”
“For him?” shouted Snape. “
Expecto Patronum!”
From the tip of his wand burst the
silver doe. She landed on the office floor, bounded once across the office, and soared out of the window. Dumbledore watched her fly away, and as her
silvery glow faded he turned back to Snape, and his eyes were full of tears.
“
After all this time?”
“
Always,” said Snape.”